Wave-motor.



c. W. HcKs.

WAVE MOTOR.

APPLIGATION FILED 00T. 7, 1908.

` ATTORNEYS ANDREW. a. cumul co.. Pnommwoemvnns. wAswnmoN. nv C- o. W.HICKS.

WAVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 7, 1908.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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W/TNESSES c.' W. HICKS.

WAVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 7, 1908.

932,278. Patented Aug.24,1909.

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Arm/WE Ys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

l'GI-IARLEIS WESLEY HICKS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THESURF LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATIONOF CALIFORNIA.

WAVE-MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that 1, CHARLES WESLEY Hicks, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles andState of California, have invented a new and Improved Vave-Motor, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and easilyerected type of wave motor, which will be effective and reliable, andwhich will also be practically automatic in operation.

1t is a further purpose of the invention to construct a motor ofthecharacter described, wherein a pier is built out into the ocean orequivalent body of water, a desirable distance, in connection with whichtracks are employed, having an inclination upward in direction of theshore, upon which tracks a motor carriage is adapted to travel. Themotor carriage is provided with a drop gate operated by the motor of thecarriage, and is operated upon by the breakers. 1n connection with thecarriage an endless cable is employed, set in motion when the carriageis moved shoreward, being rendered inactive when the carriage descendsthe incline, and this cable when in operation actuates a series of pumpsthat force water up into a suitably placed reservoir, and the water fromthis reservoir is intended to operate a dynamo in a suitable power'house, which dynamo will supply power for commercial purposes, and willalso supply power to the motor on the carriage.

lVhen the carriage reaches a predeter- -mined point inshore, means willbe provided to energize the motor and hoist the gate, and the carriagewith the gate elevated, will gravit ate down the tracks, and when itsnormal position is reached the power will be cut off and the gate willdrop. The clutch connection between the carriage and said cable is cutoff upon the return of the carriage, thus the pumps only work when thecarriage is forced shoreward.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter specifically described.

1n the drawings z-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wave motor Fig. 2is an outer end view thereof, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the de vice,parts being broken away; and Figs. 4

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 7, 1908.

PatentedAug. 24, 1909.

Serial No. 456,576.

and 5 are detail side and end elevations respectively of the clutchconnection between the carriage and the driving cable for the pumps.

The structure is made in two sections, A and A3, the sections being aunit, yet in operation one is practically independent of the other, andboth sections have an upward inclination from out-shore to in-shore, asis shown in Fig. 1.

The pier section A is supported at its outer side by standards 10,driven into the beach A', and it may be here remarked that the normaltide level is indicated by the dotted line A2, shown best in Fig. 1. Theend standards 10 are higher than the intermediate ones, and suitableties or braces 12 are employed in connection with the said standards 10,as is shown in Fig. 1.

The outer side portion of the section A3, which section is a skeletonone, also consists of a series of standards 13 driven in the beach A andconnected by braces 13a similar to the braces 12, and the end standardsof the series 13 are longer than the others, being of the same length asthe corresponding standards 10. An outer cross bar 14 connects the outerend standards 10 and 13, and where the two sections A and A3 connect, athird series of standards is employed, which standards are designated as15, and the end standards of this intermediate series correspond inlength to the corresponding standards of the outer series7 as is bestshown in Fig. 2. The outer end standards 15 are secured to the outercross bar 14 and the inner end standards 15 are secured to an innercross bar lathat connects the inner end standards 10 and 13.

A flooring 16 is provided for the section A, and is laid upon suitableparallel beams attached to the standards A10 and 15, but as heretoforestated, the section A3 is a skeleton section.

1 desire it to be understood that 1 do not confine myself to theparticular construction of the frame work shown and described.

A drive shaft 17 is journaled in suitable bearings at the outer end ofthe structure near the top, extending from side to side, as is shown inFig. 2, and a similar shaft 18 is likewise journaled at the inner end ofthe structure, as is shown in Fig. 3.

Over the section A3 a driving pulley 17 a is secured upon the shaft 17,and a corresponding pulley 18n is secured upon the shaft 18,

and these pulleys 17il and 18a carry an endless cable 19.

Upper and lower tracks 22 and 23 are se- .5 cured to the inner faces ofthe intermediate standards 15, preferably at a point above the platform16, as is shown in Fig. 2, and as is also shown in the same view,corresponding upper and lower tracks, 2,2a and. 23a are 1o secured tothe uprights 13. The tracks have the same upward and inward inclinationas the structure itself. The tracks 22 and 23,

22@ and 23, receive between them the wheels 24 of a truck or carria e B,said wheels being mounted upon suitab e axles 25,. The carriage B ispropelled inshore by the action of the breakers, and upon its inwardmovements, imparts motion to the cable 19. This is effected by themechanism C shown in 2o Figs. 4 and 5 or the equivalent thereof. Thismechanism consists of an upright, 26, secured tothe car platform 27,having pivoted theretov upper and lower dogs 28 limited in their i llindependent crank shafts 52, suitably journaled on said platform 16.

outward movement by spaced stops 29 and 3,0.. The cable 19 is shown aspassing through an aperture in the upright 26 and between the dogs 28.When the car or car riage is. moved up they incline the dogs straightenout and bitel the cable 19, carry-` 30 lng said cable with it, but uponthe descent of the carriage B the dogs, spaced apart, assumer theposition shown in Fig. 4, and thereby release the cable. Springs 31assist the dogs to biting position.

An, electric motor 32 is mounted upon the bed 27 of the carriage B, theshaft of which motor is desi nated as 33.A At the outer end of the bedo, the, carriage B. a metal frame 34 firmly fastened, which frameextends above and below the carriage and above the frame structure, asis shown in Fig. 2. The vertical members of the frame are provided withslidewaysv 35 that receive the edges of a sliding metal gate 36 whichmay be counterbalanced in any suitable manner, and said frame isprovided with an upper cross bar 3.7.

A shaft 38 is mounted to turn in the frame 34 adjacent to. its top, andon said shaft a drum 39. and a pulley 41 are secured. A

rope or chain 40 secured to said drum and to said gate 36 whereby toraise the gate and permit it to drop to, normal osition, and a elt 42 isassed over the pul ey 41 and also over a p ley 43. on the motor shaft33..

A post 44 is secured to the bed of the carriage, and is suitably Wiredto the motor, as is shown at 45A in Fig., 3, and arod 46 issecured tothe post and preferably to` the frame 3,4, and on this rod acontact-finger 47 is either stationarily or adjustably secured,

adapted for engagement with a second con.- tact-finger 48, usuallyattached to the upper track 2 2, as is shown'in Fig, 3.

In the operation of this portion of the device, when the gate 36 isdown, the breakers striking the gate force the carriageup the ineline,causing the clutch carried thereby to grip the cable 19 and impartmotion thereto, causing the shafts 17 and 18 to revolve, but when thefinger 47 engages the finger 48, 70

suitably connected with any generator of electricity, a circuit iscompleted between the generator and the motor and the latter isimmediately set in motion, consequently the shaft 38 is revolved in adirection to raise the 75 gate 36 from the water, and at such time thecarriage will of its own volition, glide down the incline until .checkedby the bar 14 or other stop, and at this time the clutches slide idlyalong the cable 19 and the gate 30 drops to its normal position.

Force pumps 49 are located in any desired number, at both ends of thesection A, being shown attached to cross beams 49, and the lower ends ofthese pumps enter the water. Openings 50, see Fig. 3, are produced inthe platform 16, one above each pump, and the iston rods 5]. ofthepumps, are coupled to Each crank sh aft 52 is provided with anindividual ulle f 53, connected by a rope or chain 54 wit pu leys 55located on the shafts 17 and 18.

Asis snown in Fig. 3, a connecting pipe 57 is provided foreach set ofpumps, and each connecting or header pipe has individual communication56 with each pump in a series, and both header pi es 57 are connectedwith a conduit 58 that eads the water to a reservoir, (not shown)elevated to any der sired extent. The water in this reservoir is Yutilized to drive a generator of electricity in a power house, and thecurrent for the motor 32, is also obtained from this source.

It will be observed that the pumps are operated only when the carriage Bis moving up the incline, but since the return of the carriage is rapid,the action of the pumps is l approximately continuous. e e

I desire; it to be understood that I dov not 1,10 confine myself to themeans shown and described for making and breakingy contact between thesource of power and the motor, since other means may be employed and as'favorable results obtained.

What lj claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a wave motor, an inclined track, a vehicle movable on the track, agate carried by the vehicle and adapted to be acted upon by the impactof the waves to move the vehicle u the incline, andmeans on the carriageor raising the gate at the end of the travel of the carriage whereby topermit the carriage to return by gravity. n

2. In a wave motor, a series of pumps, a gate mounted for vertical andlateral movement, means for raising and lowering the gate, and means foroperating the pumps by the laterall movement of the gate.

3. In a wave motor, a series of force pumps, an inclined track, avehicle mounted to travel upon the track, a gate carried by the vehicleadapted to be acted upon by the waves, whereby to move the vehicle upthe incline, a mechanism for raising and lowering the gate, means forautomatically setting said mechanism in operation, and connectingmediums between the vehicle and the pumps.

4. In a wave motor, the combination with a series of pumps, crank shaftsfor the pumps, a drive shaft and connections between the crank shaftsand drive shaft, of inclined tracks, a vehicle mounted to travel uponsaid tracks, a drop gate carried by the said vehicle, means foroperating the drive shaft by the movement of the vehicle in onedirection, means for raising and lowering the gate, carried by thevehicle, and means in the path of the vehicle for setting the raisingand lowering means in motion.

5. In a wave motor, the combination with opposing series of pum s,supports therefor, crank shafts connecter with the pistons of the pumps,drive shafts, belt connections between the drive shafts and crank shaftsand a belt connection between the two drive shafts, of inclined tracks,a vehicle mounted on said tracks, a clutch connection between thevehicle and belt connecting the drive shafts, a gate adapted to beoperated upon by the waves, mounted for sliding vertical movement onsaid vehicle, means for raising and lowering the gate, carried by saidvehicle, and means in the path of the vehicle for actuating the saidraising and lowering means.

6. In a wave motor, the combination with opposing series of pumps,supports therefor, a header for each series of pumps, connectionsbetween the headers and individual pumps of the series, a conduit withwhich the headers are connected, crank shafts connected with the pistonsofthe pumps, belt connections between the drive shafts and crank shafts,and a belt connection between the two drive shafts, of inclined tracks,a vehicle mounted on said tracks, a clutch connection between thevehicle and belt connecting the drive shafts, which clutch operates onywhen the vehicleis moving up the incline, a drop gate adapted to beoperated upon by the waves, supported by the vehicle, means for raisingand lowering the gate, carried by the vehicle, and means in the path ofthe vehicle for actuating the said raising and lowering means.

7. In a wave motor, a series of suspended pumps, an inclined plane, adrop gate adapted to be operated upon by the waves, a support for thegate, mounted for movement on said inclined plane, operating connectionsbetween the gate support and pumps, means for raising and lowering thegate, and a mechanism for actuating said means at intervals.

8. In a wave motor, a series of pumps, a gate mounted for vertical andlateral movement, means for moving the gate in one direction, and meansfor operating the pumps by the movement of the gate in the otherdirection.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES I/VESLEY HICKS.

Witnesses:

E. M. DEIBLER, E. T. PARKE.

